Grain distributor



Feb. 6, 1945. R, AT gR ON 2,368,872

GRAIN DISTRIBUTOR Filed April 21, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet l FIG. I.

ROY LPATTERSON 1945- R. l. PATTERSON QRAIN DISTRIBUTOR Filed April 21, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 ROY I. PATTERSON Feb. 6, 1945. R. l. PATTERSON GRA'IN DISTRIBUTOR Filed April 21, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 I 'IAIl/Ill/IIl/I FIG. 9.

ROY I. PATTERSON Feb. 6, 1945. R L PATTERSON 2,368,872

GRAIN DISTRIBUTOR Filed April 21, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Feb. 6, 1945 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE i QRAIN DISTRIBUTOR Roy I. Patterson, Golden Valley,- Minn.

' Application April 21, 1943, Serial No. 4 83,969

' 20 Claims. 7 (c1. 193--31) My invention relates to. grain distributors and has for itsobject to provide a compact and exceptionally efficient apparatus which will receive grain from an elevating leg in a' grain elevator and is adapted to discharge the grain to any of the bins in the grain elevator.

I In the handling of grain, particularly-in the country elevators of. the smallertype, it is customary to dump the grain from trucks or wagons by which it is hauled. to the elevator, into a receiving hopper from =which it is elevated by means of a series of buckets secured to an endless belt or endless chains and which'runover a head pulley, the grain being dumped from the head pulley into a hopper from which leads a delivery spout. From this spout the grain has to be chuted to any one of a very considerable number of bins located in the elevator. Heretofore there has been a problem both as togettingthe' grain.

chuted to the various bins and as to preventing escape of dust which might become oxidized and form a dangerous explosive. In general, by former practice an elevator has had to lose the,

equivalent of one story in height in order to get the necessary lengths of delivery chutes to reach' use of two or more inlets from, discharge spouts of multiple elevating legs,' each of, which is sealed into the inside of the slidable ducts. In the presthan two can be employed.

being closed on all sides except for openings lead- I ing to the chutes which are located along both the open side and the side of the casing opposite thereto, together with ,a 'slidable duct mounted within the casing and carrying means for,direct-..

ing material therefrom into a selected one of the distributor chutes. This duct will have three of its sides permanently closed with one-side open except for a belt secured thereto which, to the extent which the sli dable duct is lowered or raised forms a fourth wall extending downwardly from the point of inlet of the grain. The slidable duct is open at its bottom, but is provided with a swing- 7 ing gate which may form a sloping bottom closure cooperating with the chute passageways whereby the duct may be put in communication with any of the grain carrying chutes.

Means is provided forlifting and lowering the slidable duct; by means; of the aforesaid closure belt and for shifting the bottom closure to cause it to communicate with a selected 'ducton on or the other sides of the distributor.

In all positions of the sliding duct the passageway from the discharge from the elevator leg is closed tothe point of junction with one of the distributor chutes, thusefiectively preyentingthe escape of dust there from inventionlends itself. particularly to' the tion viewlof the lower end of the vertically .slid- It is therefore the object ofrny invention to provide in combination; with distributorjducts extending downwardly in an angular direction'from oldpositesides of a frame passageway, a slidable duct mounted to move vertically in said main distributor chamber with means connected to any of the delivery ducts and means. to. shift that connection at will.

The full objects and advantages of invention will appear in detail. in the specification hereinafter given, and thenovel features of the invention by means of which the above-noted advantageous results are secured willbeparticularly pointed out in-the claims. I,

Inthe drawings illustrating an application of myinventionz Fig. l is an. end elevation-view of the plant in operative position, showing the take-off ducts, the, lead-in from the elevator leg,,and the belt operating pulleys and cords.

Fig. 2 is apart perspective side elevation of the plant, showing the manner in which the takeoutducts are disposed relative to one another. f

the construction, showing the manner in which the slidable chute is counterweighted:

, Fig 5 illustrates the end of thespout from the elevator leg and the means oifjremovably' sealing it into. the appliance; .Fig. 6 is an; enlarged transverse sectional view taken on line B-6,of Fig. l. g I v n Fig is an enlarged fragmentary side elevaable duct or chute showing its relationto the outlets onopposite sides.

Fig. 8- is :a longitudinal sectional view of the lower end of the ,slidable chute.

Fig. 9

is a sectional view taken on line 9---9 of Fig. 8;

.Fig. 10 is a perspective viewof one of the". spout connectors attached to the distributor body. Fig. l1 is a front viewof axspout' connector i of symmetrical form, showing a conical direct connection end FigQiZshows a diiierent form of ,spoutconnectar, M h 1 a 4 Fig. 13=is a sectional view taken on linel13-|3 ofFigalz.

Aframework is provided which as shown-in Figs, 1, 3 and 6, comprises sets-of uprights .15, a l1 and 19 on oneside, anduprights 16; [land 29 on the opposite side. These respective setsiof Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view taken on line uprights extend vertically between common lateral planes as well shown in Fig. 6, and may be composed of any suitable material, such for example, as two-by-four lumber. A second set of uprights 2| and 2 3 on one side,-and 22 and 2 3 on the other side, are positioned inside of the respective uprights l5 and I9 and I6 and 26 as clearly shown in Fig. 6. The uprights 2i and 23 will be rested upon a'fioor stringer 251and the uprights 22 and 24 will be rested upon a floor stringer 26. Upon the outer edges of the uprights I5 and I6 is secured a cover 27 which may be formed of any suitable material, such for example, as boards, but which will have removable portions 28, 29, Fig. 2, access into the space 38 outlined by the several uprights. Similarly a cover 3| having similar removable members is attached to uprights l9 and 26 enclosing a space 32 to which the removable members will open. Bearing strips 33 of suitable material, such as some smooth metal, are applied to the inside faces of the uprights 2|, 22, 23 and 24, as clearly shown in Fig. 6. Similar bearing strips 34 and 35 are applied to one set of edges of uprights l8 and I1, respectively, and. other' similar bearing strips 38 and 31 are applied'to the opposite edges of uprights l8 and H. There are thus formed two rectangles of vertical bearing strips 33, 34, 35, and 33, 36, 31, respectively, which outline spaces or channels 38 and 39 within the vertical limits of the uprights forming the frame structure above-defined.

Extending fully across the sides of said spaces which will permit Obviously, if it be so desired, only one channel such as 38 or 39 might be provided, or more than two such channels. In either case the principle of operation of thefstructure would be the same. Also, the particular dimensions of this or these channels formed within the framework and the dimensionsof the spout connec- 'tors may be varied as desired to meet requirements.

In each of these'spaces or channels is a chute slide designated generally as 52 for space 39 and 38 and 39 and secured by angle irons 40 fast on the edges of the transversely positioned uprights 2|, 22, 23 and 24, are sets of spout connectors 4|a, and M?) at one side,.and 42a .and 42b at the other side as best shown in Fig. 1. These are called here spout shoes.

These spout connectors are shown in detail in Fig. 10. Each of them comprises a top wall 43 and parallel'bottom wall 44 (indicated in dotted lines), a back side wall 45 (indicated in dotted lines) and affront side wall 46. As indicated at 41, Fig. 10, the inner expanded end' of all of i all as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The spout connectors 4|b and 42b correspond in their structural arrangement with the members Ma and 42a except that they have extensions which are angularly turned inthe opposite direction,

all as clearly shown in Fig. 1. The extensions 49 and 5|] are provided with semiconical adapters 5| which are adapted to be united with round pipes each goingto a separate bin. The edges of'the opening are such that when the parts are held in position they slope downwardly as I clearlyshown in Figs. 1, 2 and '7. These parts are secured to the uprights 2|, 23 and 22, 24, by means of the short anglepieces 40 above referred to, and which are clearly shown in Fig. 2.

With the construction above defined, the spaces or channels 38 and 39 open at their ends into spaces 3D-and 32 which are otherwise enclosed and open at their sides into the openings 4! leading into the spout connectors M11, Mb, 420.,

and 42b.

53-for space 38. Since these two chute slides are identical in construction, the description for 34, 35, respectively. A back plate 56 in each' case is secured along its side edges at 51 and 58 to the two side plates but spaced inwardly at their edges as indicated at 59. At their bottoms the side pieces 54 and are held together by a bottom transverse plate 60, Fig.8, and are providedwith a pair of inside reinforcing members 6| and-62.- v

The bottoms ofthe side pieces 54 and'55 are cut away so that angular edges 63 and 64 form an upwardly-turned open V, see Figs. 7 and 8. This V is also formed in the reinforcing plates 6| and 62. At about, the point of the V, ears 65 and 66 (the latter shown in dotted lines in Fig.8) are secured to these plates and have journalled the'reinat the V a transverse shaft 61 shown in dotted lines in Fig. 6. Fast on the shaft 67 is an oscillatable bottom guide plate comprising a central member and side members 69, 18,'whichp1ate is adapted to be posi tioned so as to close the'lower end of the chute slide 52 (or the chute slide 53 accomplishing the latter in the same manner). This closure is effected as clearly indicated in Fig.8 by engagement of the side edges of the oscillatable plate with the side walls of the reinforcing plate 6| and below the shaft 61' with one or the other of I the oblique edges 63 or 64 of the reinforcing plates 6|. plate engages the transverse plate adjacent an abutment 12 fast on said plate, and the end 7| of Y the'oscillatable plate in its other position may engage the back plate 56 adjacent or in The lower end'l4 of the oscillatable plate extends below the lowercontact with abutment 13.

most portion of the side plate 56, all as clearly shown in Fig. 8.

To oscillate the plate from the position shown the bar 15 and runs upwardly over a pulley 80, Fig. 1, and'extends to the operators station where it may be drawn and'fastened to oscillate j the plate back to the position of Fig. 8.

By-these means theoscillatableplate maybe shifted tov either of two positions'to cause the grain coming down the sliding chute topass The upperend 1| of the oscillatable a'seaem either to spout shoes '4 la, MD, on one side,'or 42a, 42b on the opposite side.

The back fplate56 is cut away at 8| nd thetransverse securing plate. 60 is likewise-cut away at 82, leaving an opening there for grain to move either to right or left into the spout shoes 4Ia, MD or 42a, 4212.

By observing Fig. '7 it will be noted that the oscillatable plate is positioned extending into and engagingwith the lower end portion I4 and the bottom wall 83 of the lowermost spout 42a. This is typical of the form of engagement of the oscillatable plate with any of the spout shoes. The

dropped, the engagement of the end portion 14 .ofthe oscillatable member with the wall of a spout shoe will hold the slide in the position for discharging grain to whichever one of the spout shoes 4Ia, 42b, or 42a, 42b, has been selected to ;receive the grain from the elevator legs.

To raise or lower the chute slide a belt 86 is secured by bolts 81, Fig. 8, to the transverse plate 60. This belt is provided with reinforcing strips 88 and 89 at its sides which hold the beltat its edges in engagement with the side walls 54 and 55 of the chute slide.

This belt 86 passes over'a roller 90, Fig. 3, at the top of the frame. To the ends of the belt are secured cords 9| and 82 which I may be carried to any desired point where a pul- 1 ley, either operated by hand or other means, may

furnish the power to raise the chute slides. By

this means the chute slide can be brought into position so thatthe oscillating member 68 may be caused to engageany of the spout shoes 4Ia,

4Ib, or 42a, 42!). To make easier the lifting of the chute slide, a counterweight 93 is secured to a cord 94 which passes over a high pulley 95, the

fithe grain. The resultwould be-simplyto cause i the grain to circulate back until the operator-discovers that the bin is full and the chute clogged.

-- This discovery ordinarily will take place as soon -as--the door I02 is forced-open and the grain be- 51 gins'to rattle down through-the extension'chute II6, as it will make a noise quite difierent from that which ensues while the grain is being fed to a chute leading to a bin.

In Figs. ll, 12, and l3, a variant form-of the spout shoe is shown wherein -a straight-sided symmetrical funnel I03 extends into a cylindrical outlet spout I 04 and that in turnto a portion I05 as shown in Fig. 11, which latter will form a connector with the spout at various angles, or an elongationof the part I04 may be as indicated at I06 and may have telescoped therewith a second portion I01 which is held in position-by a bead-or rim I08 and a. securing device I09 fast on the cylindrical extension I06. The conical portion I05 to whatever form of extension I04 it may be attached, is adapted to enter a similar enlarged semiconical section H0 which may be secured by a pivotarrangement' I II t the conical member I05 and thus make adjustment as desired for connection with any selected spout.

Although under normal operative conditions theweight of the chute slide 52 (or 53) is amply suflicient to drop it to any desired position when the belt 86 is released for that purpose, there may be conditions such that the slide chute might have a tendency to stick; In order to take care of such a, situationI connect a pull cord H2 at II3 to the framework and carry it over a roller II4 on the chute slide, the osition of these parts being indicated in dotted lines'in Fig. l. The cord H2 is alsocarried under a roller I I5 on the frame. It follows that by pulling on cord II2, force will be applied to the chute slide through roller II4 and the sticking of the chute slide, if and when it occurs, will be readily overcome.

The advantages of my invention will be appar.. ent from the foregoing description. By an exceedingly] compact and simple arrangement of parts, a framework constructed of ordinary lumher and occupying very little room, both laterally dicated in dotted lines, in Fig. 2. The form of these spouts is best shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The voutlet of the spout will be preferably rectangular as indicated at I00 in Figs. 2 and '3. A packing strip IOI will surround the outside of the spout .into; the spaces 30 and 32.- This door has two functions. When either of the removable portions 28 or 30 are withdrawn, the door I02 may 7 be pulled open to permit inspection or entrance into the chute slide for any desired purpose. More important, when grain is being fed through the chute slide and for any reason the same becomes clogged andgrain builds up'in it, such as not infrequently happens because the bin to which the grain is being-delivered becomes full, the self-closing door I02 may yield, opening into 1 the space 30 (or the space 32) This space is in effeet a chute which will be carried through the floor and connected with an extension chute II 6 which leads to the dump pit where the elevator picks up- I Portland cement.

and particularly in elevation, the discharge from the elevator legs may be simplyand efiectively connected to any of the spouts for distributing the grain to any number of grain bins in an elevator; There are no complicated parts to get out of order, and'padjustment from one spout shoe to another may be efiected speedily, easily and oertainly. The distribution, while adapted for verynumerous different connections and for handling large volumes of grain, is non-the-lessrelatively moderate in cost.. a

In the specification and claims presented here- 'with reference has been made generally to the handling of grain. It will beunderstood, however, that the invention is applicable to thehandling of any kind of granular material such for.

example as ground grain, feed, flour or the like, and other ground or granular material such as The invention has to do with the distribution of anykind of material adapted to flow by gravity. It is also applicable to such material when it is delivered from other' means than an elevator leg such for example as where it is delivered by being blown;

I claim: I 1.. In combination with the discharge spout. of a grain elevator leg, a grain distributor comprising a'fram'ework forming a vertical open-walled ,channelwl'eading. to-saidxdischargevlegy a'multiplicityof spout shoes openinginto said channel, and a vertically movable chute slide cooperating directly with said discharge leg for receiving and controlling the flow of the grain therefrom,

said chute slide having a bottom movable in said channel and adapted to cooperate with a selected one only of said spout shoes and to control the flow of grain delivered through this chute'slide to go to said selected spout shoe only.

2. In combination with the discharge spout of a grain elevator leg, a grain distributor comprising a framework forming a vertical open-walled channel leading to said-discharge leg, a -multi- .plicity of spout shoes opening into said channel, a vertically movable chute slide cooperating directly with said discharge leg for receiving and controlling the flow of the grain therefrom, said chute slide having a bottom movable in said channel and adapted to cooperate with a selected one only of said spout shoes and to control the flow.

of grain delivered through this chute slide to go to said selected spout shoe only, and means for moving said chute slide up and down along-said channel to bring said bottominto cooperation with any selected spout shoe.

3. In combinationwiththe discharge spout of a grain elevator leg, a grain distributor comprising a framework forming a vertical channel leading to said discharge leg, a multiplicity of spout shoes opening into said channel, a vertical chute slide cooperating with said discharge leg for receiving the grain therefrom, said chute slide having a bottom adapted to cooperate with a selected one only of said spout shoes and to con,-

trol the flow of grain delivered through this;

chute slide to go to said selected spout shoe only, and a belt adapted to form a closure to one side of the chute slide connected to the bottom thereof for moving it up and down, to bring said bottom into position to cooperate with a selected spout shoe.

4. In combination with a discharge spout of a grain elevator leg, a grain distributor comprising a framework forming a vertical channel into which said discharge spout projects, a multiplicity of spout Shoes openin into said channel, and a vertical chute slide having an open side through which said discharge spout projects, said chute slide having a bottom adapted to cooperate with a selected one only of said spout shoes to control the fiow of rain from the discharge spout through the chute slide to go to said selected spout spout shoe, and a belt connected with the lower part of said chute slide and operating to close the open side .of said chute slide up to the entrance therein of the discharge spout for moving the chute slide up and down to bring said bottom into position to cooperate with the selected spout shoe.

6. In combination with the discharge spout of a grain elevator leg, a grain distributor comprising a framework forming a vertical channel leading to said discharge leg, two sets-of spout yshoes opening intosai'd channel on respective opposite sides thereof, each set comprising a multi- -plicity-of said spout shoes, and a vertical chute slide cooperating with said-discharge leg for re- :ceiving thejgrain therefrom, said chute slide having a bottom adapted to cooperate with a selected one only of said spout shoes and to control the grain delivered through the chute slide grain elevator leg, said spout formed with a rectangular rim having sealing gaskets on the outside thereof, a grain distributor embodying a 'multiplicityof spout connections anda vertical chute slide having means for moving it vertically to cause it to cooperate with any of said spout connections, said chute slide being rectangular in cross section and having an open side through which said discharge spout projects, the gaskets of said discharge spout engaging the inner walls of the chute slide to seal the same against the escape of dust.

8. In combination with a discharge spout of a grain elevator leg,said spout having a rectangular rim having sealing gaskets on the outside thereof, a grain distributor embodying a multiplicity of openings for spout connections arranged in vertical order, a vertical chute slide rectangular in cross section and having an open side through which the discharge spout projects, and a belt connected to the lower part of the chute slide for moving it-vertically and operating to close the open side below the discharge spout, the gaskets of said discharge spout engaging the inner walls of'the chute slide and the 'upper inner surface of the belt to seal the inside the limits thereof, an opening formed in.

the side of the said chute slide across the open lower limit of which said extended bottom may be swung, and means to swing the chute slide on its pivot to bring the extended end into contact with the bottom of a selected one of said spout connectors so that grain delivered through said chute slide will go only into said selected spout connector.

10. In combination with a discharge spout of a grain elevator leg; a grain distributor embodying two sets of laterally extended openings to spout connectors each set arranged in vertical order one above the other and spaced apart so and being of a length to extend outside the.

limits thereof, openings formed in opposite sides of -said chute slide across the open lower limit of either of 'which said extended bottom may be swung; means to swing the chute slide on tis pivot tobrin'g the extended end into contact with the bottom of a selected one of either of said sets of spout connectors so that grain delivered through said chute slide will go only into said.

selected spout connector.

11. In combination with a discharge spout of a grain elevator leg, a grain distributor embodying opposed sets of laterally extended openirgs to spout connectors said sets of openings being respectively arranged in vertical order one above the other and spaced apart so as to face each other, means cooperating with said discharge spout for producing an extensible chute closed except at its sides adjacent its bottom to conduct grain from the discharge spout to any selected one of said openings, and means at the bottom for closing said extensible chute to cause the grainpassing through it to enter the selected one of the spout connector openings.

12. In a grain distributor having a framework forming a vertical channel, a series of spout shoes secured to said framework along the side thereof, one above the other, each shoe having a laterally extended opening from said channel into and across the width of said. channel, and each shoe having a spout connector extension angularly disposed laterally with respect to the vertical extent of the channel, the angles of said extension being alternately in opposite directions for the several shoes.

13. In a grain distributor having a framework forming a pair of adjacent vertical channels, a spout shoe secured to said framework having a laterally extended opening from said channels into and across the widths of both said channels, and having a, spout connector extension angularly disposed laterallywith respect to the vertical extent of the channel.

14. In a grain distributor having a framework forming a pair of adjacent vertical channels, a series of spout shoes secured to said framework along the side thereof, one above the other, each shoe having a laterally extended opening from said channels into and across the widths of both said channels, and each shoe having a single spout connector extension angularly disposed laterally with respect to the vertical extent of the channels, the angles of said extensions being alternately in opposite directions for the several shoes.

15. In combination with the discharge spouts of a plurality of grain elevator legs, a grain distributor comprising a framework forming a corresponding plurality of parallel vertical chan' nels into which said discharge spouts respectively project, a multiplicity of spout shoes extending across and above one another along all said channels, and a vertical chute slide in each chan' nel having an open side through which said discharge spouts respectively project, each 01 said chute slides having a bottom adapted tocooperate with any selected one of said spout shoes to control the fiowof grain from the discharge spout through the chute slide to go to said selected spout shoe, whereb grain may simultaneously be delivered from all said discharge spouts into a single spout shoe or from'each 01 said discharge spouts into a separate spout shoe.

16. In combination with a discharge spout of a grain elevator leg, a grain distributor comprising a framework forming a vertical channel having the discharge of the discharge spout across the top thereof, a vertical chute slide in the channel edges the discharge spout, a roller pulley journalled in said frame adjacent thedischarge part of the discharge spout, and a belt running over said roller pulley attached to the lower end of the chute slide and operating to close the open side of the chute slide below the discharge spout and forming means'to lift the discharge spout vertically into any desired position.

17. A grain distributor embodying a vertical channel and a multiplicity of spout shoes opening above one another across the opposite sides thereof, a chute slide movable vertically in said channel, said chute slide being cut-away at its bottom opposite the spout shoe openings, a bottom member pivoted between said cut-away portions, and means to swing the bottom member into either of two sloping positions, whereby it will guide grain moved through the chute'slide to pass through said cut-away portion to enter a selected one of a spout shoe on either side of the channel.

18. A grain distributor embodying a vertical channel and a multiplicity of spout shoes opening above one another across the opposite sides thereof, a chute slide movable vertically in said channel, said chute slide having its ends at the.

bottom out out in the form of a V and having sides adjacent the spout shoe openings terminating in substantially the horizontal plane of the apex of the said out out Vs so as to leave in effect cut-away portions, and a bottom member pivoted at the apex of said V portions, and means to swing the bottom member to close the bottom of the chute slide in either of two sloping positions whereby it will guide grain moving through the chute slide to pass through said cut-away portion to enter a selected one of the spout shoes on either side of the channel.

19. In a grain distributor a multiplicity of spout shoes having adjacent openings, vertically disposed, and a chute slide for receiving grain from the discharge spout of an elevator leg and guiding it into any selected one of said spout shoe openings, said chute slide having its ends at the bottom out out in the form of a V and having its sides adjacent the spout shoe openings terminating in substantially the horizontal plane of the apex of said out out Vs, so as to leave in effect cut-away portions and resulting openings turned toward the spout shoe openings, a bottom member pivoted at the apex of said V portions, means having an open side adapted to straddle with its 20. In a grain distributor, means forming a vertical channel and a second vertical chute-like channel adjacent the same, a series of spout shoes having laterally extended openings to the vertical channel along a side adjacent the second channel and adapted to feed grain to the elevator storage bins, a chute slide movable vertically in the first-named channel and having means adapting it to be united for delivery of grain to any selected one of said spout shoesand a self-closing door in the chute slide adapted to open -to permitdischarge of grain through the chute-like channel when for any reason the system becomesclogged.

r ROYI. PATTERSON. 

